Tithing Money or Food?

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Author and former military man Frank Chase Jr. grew in Baltimore, MD. He got interested in writing from watching movies and listening to a radio show called mystery theatre, but it was only in his thirties after a divorce that his desire to write escalated. His debut book “False Roads to Manhood: What Women Need to Know: What Men Need to Understand” took him seven years of research and writing. If he weren’t a writer, Frank would be a stage actor as it has been his passion since high school.Being a writer has taught him that everyone will not agree with you or what you may write, but it leaves a record and a legacy that can help future generations long after you have passed on. He is currently writing a scripture-centered book and also plans on writing a fiction novel soon. Read full interview…

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It’s amazing when you discover a new biblical truth. That what happened to me several years ago when I went on a biblical journey to study tithing. What I uncovered literally shocked me into truth. I also discovered how easy it is to be biblically ignorant even when you think you are an well informed person. Needless to say, I suspect that many believers are not as astute in biblical theology and understanding. It’s no fault of their own, but when you allow so-called biblical experts tell you what the Bible says, without you doing personal follow-up, you’ll most likely become well informed in biblical error.

In the case of tithing and what the Bible defines as a tithe, many of us have become victims of phantom tithing passages interpreted in mysterious spiritualistic ways to get money for the church. In this post, I really want you to see that many experts, theologians, scholars, and Bible readers have not fallen for the Sunday morning tithe stickup. Where do people get the idea that God requires money as a tithe? I would have to say ignorance, confusion and a lack of scripture study is the culprit. This post will be a list of quotes from many in the christian community debunking the tithe myths that exist today. Based on the research that I have done in my book, kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway, tithing money or paying a tenth of your income is actually not in the Bible. In fact, phantom tithing verses and propaganda come from pervasive biblical illiteracy, and that can be financially dangerous to the believers in church. Proper biblical exegesis, hermeneutics, context and theology have fallen to wayside, and the idea of what a person thinks the scripture means personally has become the standard. That opens the door to private interpretation of the scripture which the Bible warns against. For example, many people think the phrase, “God helps those who helps themselves” is a verse in the Bible when it actually is not in the Bible. Because of phantom verses, many people believe tithing money is in the Bible, when it actually is not. So what are the experts, theologians, scholars saying about tithing? Let’s take a journey. But Before we do that, I would like to share with you, why i resigned from tithing.

What are People Saying About Tithing?

Studying the full scope of tithing as presented in the Bible, one discovers that tithing is first mentioned in Genesis 14: 17-24, where Abraham is described as “giving” a voluntary offering of a tenth to Melchizedek, King/priest of Salem. Of course, we “pay” an obligation, but we “give” a gift because we choose to. There was no law of tithing in the Word of God demanding that Abraham pay Melchizedek tithing on the spoils of war. (Also, see Chapter III.)

Because Abraham “gave” tithes to Melchizedek before Moses and the ceremonial laws of Moses’ day, some contend that the practice of tithing is perpetual.

In addition, some churches contend that Abraham paid (not “gave” as Scripture reads) a tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek because there was an unwritten tithing law that required him to do so. Consider this. This action by Abraham is in no way related to the law of tithing later revealed in the Book of Leviticus. The Levitical law required that tithe be paid only on land and animals. (Lev. 27:30-31.) Spoils of war do not represent an increase from farming. The Mosaic law required that the priests receive 1/500th of the goods from the spoils of war, not 1/10th. The Levites received 1/50th of the spoils of war, not 1/10th. The law concerning spoils of war had nothing to do with tithing. (Numbers 31: 27-29.) Now, if Moses, in Genesis, were recording a universal law of tithing at the time of Abraham, why does he depart from this law some 400 years later? Abraham’s gift was one of free-will, an offering of thanksgiving. Nothing more, nothing less!

It is true, of course, that tithing was a part of the ceremonial codes (Deuteronomy 14:22-29 and 26:12), but the fallacy of assuming that there was a perpetual law of tithing at the time of Abraham, is immediately observed when one studies the practice of circumcision. Circumcision existed before Moses (Genesis 17:10) and was adopted into the ceremonial codes as was tithing (Exodus 12: 44, 48 and Leviticus 12:3); however, as we see in Colossians 2:16,17, Paul states that Christ’s death made void the ceremonial laws (Hebrews 9: 8-11), including the practice of circumcision (Galatians 5:6; 6:15, and 1 Corinthians 7:19). Therefore, even though circumcision and tithing were practiced before Moses and the writing of the ceremonial codes, this practice did not make either of these acts perpetual. (Taken from Beware The Tithe Trap by Dr. Fillmer Hevener)

1st Century Jewish perspective

The 1st Century Jews who were the very first Christians–and who are the Christian example that we have in the bible—had a unique perspective. Perhaps we have lost this perspective in the church of today–having to deal with so many years of tradition from which most of our churches operate.

The people in the Bible understood certain things–I believe much better than we do. They had experience that we do not have–we understand certain things that are stated in the Bible–but we do not live them out in the same way that they did–and one of the reasons this is –is because of the particular perspective the 1st Century Jews operated from.

These people had “grown up” in the traditions of the Jewish faith of that day. They lived out their lives–their tradition in these ways-

They paid a tithe–which consisted of 1/10 of their goods–1/10 of the herd and the crops which they grew. It was the part of most of the people to (those who were not of the tribe of Levi) to render this tithe to the priests–the Levites.

The Levites were the anointed appointed delegated authority within Israel to do ministry. They were the only ones who were lawfully allowed to serve God–to perform the many and various ministries–offerings unto God throughout the year. The Levites had the “office of ministry”. They had authority over the rest of Israel to be the ones who were chosen by the covenant laws delivered to Moses, to be the tribe of Israel which were allowed to be ministers unto the Lord. No one else in Israel could be a minister. No one else had the anointing to do this. The Levities were delegated by the law to be the ministry which received the tithe. They offered the tithe–which is holy unto God–as the sin offering for the people–the rest of Israel–and themselves. Their ministry function was to properly make these offerings unto God–to properly use the tithe–the offering to God for the sin of the people. They also lived on the tithe–they were allowed to eat of the slain animals–and partake of the fruits and grains which were offered through the tithe. (Taken from Vision of the Church)

Leviticus 25:1: And the LORD spake unto Moses in Mt. Sinai saying,

Verse 2: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, when ye come into the land which I shall give you, then shall the land keep a Sabbath unto the LORD.

Verse 3: Six years shalt thou sow thy field, and six years shalt thou prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;

Verse 4: But in the seventh year shall be a Sabbath of rest unto the land, a Sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

Verse 5: That which growth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the Land.

Verse 6: And the Sabbath of the land shall be meat (food) for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for the stranger that sojourneth with thee.

Verse 7: And for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat.

The Israelites observed a seven-year agricultural (and tithing) cycle. Every seventh year the land (and the tithers) got a break. No large-scale reaping was to be done, so no tithes were to be paid. Any Jewish rabbi will tell you no tithes were paid in ancient Israel on the seventh year, and tithes were never collected from the wages of the poor. During the Sabbatical year, people were to take from the land just what they needed for their own personal consumption, and nothing more. How would this set with “conservative” preachers who holler about having a strong work ethic, and making the most (money) out of every waking moment of your life? What if somebody out in the congregation decided that every seventh year he would ditch the factory job, sling on a backpack and go live off the land like the Indians did before the coming of the white man?

Today’s tithers simply don’t get that seventh-year break commanded by Scripture. They’re pressured to slave SEVEN years out of seven to satisfy Organized Religion’s hunger for finances. When one job isn’t enough, people are encouraged to work two. Preachers LITERALLY (and wrongly) apply the Tithing Law, while “spiritualizing away” people’s need for physical rest, to keep the cash rolling in. Parents who must work extra jobs come under criticism because they aren’t always there for the kids and “have poor family values”. Think of it. God actually gave the farmer a whole year off every seventh year from plowing, sowing and reaping, besides their weekly Sabbath Day rest. God even cared about the land, which is nothing but dead, wormy dirt! Funny how preachers don’t worry about other Christians dropping dead from overwork. I kinda suspect God is a lot more merciful than His supposed representatives up in the pulpit. (Taken from the article Rewriting Scripture to Justify Tithing)

Several years ago when I fist started learning about tithing, I joined an Yahoo Tithing Study group. This group of believers were very well versed on tithing. One of the profound questions that escapes some people who subscribe to monetary tithing is that they never ask how God’s tithing system became a money grab for the church. Let me tell you that insofar as scripture is concerned, the Bible was not source. The catholic unilaterally established a (income based) tithe by means of religious church legislation patterned after secular law in the six century. I cover this phenomenon in my book, Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway? Here is what the catholic church decided, “The earliest positive legislation on the subject seems to be contained in the letter of the bishops assembled at Tours in 567 and the canons of the Council of Maçon in 585. In course of time, we find the payment of tithes made obligatory by ecclesiastical enactments in all the countries of christendom.” The process of ripping up the God’s biblical tithe laws to change them to fit the needs of the worldwide catholic church began by proclamations to the effect: “The Church looked on this payment as “of divine law, since tithes were instituted not by man but by the Lord Himself” (C. 14, X de decim. III, 30). As regards the civil power, the Christian Roman emperors granted the right to churches of retaining a portion of the produce of certain lands, but the earliest instance of the enforcement of the payment of ecclesiastical tithes by civil law is to be found in the capitularies of Charlemagne, at the end of the eighth century.” (Taken from New Advent). So what we have is that the Catholic juggernaught took it upon themselves to decree and declare that income-based tithing was legal based on their personal doctrinal view of the authority as religious leaders of the world. They felt it was not necessary to prove monetary tithing from the Bible because when they decreed it, that meant it was law.

Now some people believe tithing always existed in America and in the churches but, but as I discovered in my research, tithing money or income based tithing did not appear in American churches until it was invented in 1873 by Alexander L. Hogshead and John W. Pratt according to the Dean of Vanderbilt University’s James Hudnut-Beumler’s book, “In Pursuit of the Almighty Dollar,” (c) 2007 Vanderbilt University. You can see an article written by Russell Kelly explaining the invention of the the in United states in 1873, in an article titled, 1873: TITHING FIRST SUGGESTED IN USA.

Manipulating the Bible is can be done so easy and yet the hearers never question that a scripture is taken out of context. For example, when tithing taught using Proverbs 3:9, it reads, “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase..” Now, in the average congregant ears, what are they hearing after they have been indoctrinated into the income-based tithing system? Well, this is how the verse is contorted in their mind, “Honor the Lord with your money, with the first 10% of your paycheck. Mind you, the actual verse has nothing to do with money. Proverbs 3:9 is about edible items not cold hard cash. You can check out a book bubble I wrote on first fruits titled, What Are First Fruits in the Bible? The internet is the greatest invention known to man and it has exposed all the falsehoods about income-based tithing. What do we know about tithes and first fruits?

“Tithes and first fruits were not given concurrently during each year. For example, first fruits were offered on the 16th day of the first money (Nisan) and the sixth day of the third month (Sivan) of the Jewish calendar year. In contrast, the year for the tithing of livestock [not money] commenced the first day of the sixth money (Elul); while harvest tithing initiated on the 15 day of the 11th month (Shevat). The specific tithes were due one year form the date preceded. (Sources: “The Book of Our Heritage”, By Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov/The MacArthur Study Bible, p. 185 [NKJV], by John MackArthur. (Taken from A Closer Look At Tithing by Victor T. Stephens”

When you pay money to a church as in tithing a tenth of your income, you are paying a tax of sorts. I would even say that you a paying a temple tax or a spiritual tax which the Lord does not require. What he does ask is that believer have a whole heart of giving.

Israel’s Tithing System

We cannot stress too strongly the importance of interpreting Scripture in context. By the simple expedience of beginning the text two verses earlier, we can see how dramatically that alters one’s perception. For example, in the New Testament, there is a verse that every Christian in the world knows – it is from Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi and he writes, “Work out your salvation in fear and trembling,” I imagine that most Christians are familiar with this verse but how many can complete the sentence? “for it is God that is at work within you to will and to do.” [Phil. 2:12-13]

Now, if it is true that we have to be careful to set verses in their context, it is imperative that we also set the text into its historical and cultural context. In order to see these verses in their proper light, we must first ask the question – Under what Covenant was Malachi writing, the Old or the New? Quite clearly, Malachi is both Old Testament and Old Covenant. Therefore, any exposition and contemporary application needs to take that into account.

Unlike the New Covenant where we are a “Priesthood of Believers,” in the Old Covenant was a “Priest-class” – a specific tribe designated as Priests and this was the tribe of Levi. The Levitical Priesthood, as it was known, is the concern of the Malachi passage. The over-arching argument of Hebrews is that the Priesthood of Jesus is better than the Levitical Priesthood. The writer to the Hebrews insists that:

The Levitical Priesthood was inferior to the priesthood of Melchizedek;

The Levitical order is both outclassed and replaced by the new order and has become redundant.

Under the now redundant Levitical system, the priests acted as representatives for the people and served as mediators between them and God. Whilst having priestly privileges, a Levite had no worldly comforts. For example, he had no income and no property. A Levite had no independent means of support whatsoever. Moreover, when Jacob divided Israel’s inheritance, there was not even an allotment to Levi. In such circumstances, the other eleven tribes met the day-to-day needs of the Levites. It was, if you will, an Old Covenant quid pro quo – The other eleven tribes not being allowed to minister unto the Lord is tempered by the Levites not being able to work.

The solution was an entirely practical and pragmatic one. Each tribe would be responsible for bringing into a central storehouse one-tenth of their produce to meet their everyday needs. The Malachi passage is a rebuke to those who were withholding their support and thus, compromising this system.

I am of the view that tithing is one of the things in the Bible that is “biblical” but not Christian. I readily admit that for some that is a bitter pill to swallow but we take it for granted that circumcision is clearly biblical and yet, it is not viewed as Christian. The same can be said of polygamy. My fundamental objection is that those who press the hardest the case for tithing demand that we give like Israelites do not themselves live like Levites.

Moreover, if tithing is a New Covenant praxis, why does Paul not mention it when he writes a thoroughgoing passage on giving? I do not think that it is sufficient to argue from silence that tithing was an axiom of the Christian life. Accordingly, I raise the following objections:

The Levitical priesthood belongs to the now obsolete Levitical Priesthood;

The entire book of Hebrews makes the argument that Jesus and His Covenant is superior to Moses and his covenant;

The point to note is not that Abraham paid the tithe but that Levi paid it. His purpose in doing so is to pose the question, “Which is the greater priesthood, the one who paid the tithe or the one who received it?”;

Hebrews confirms that there has been both a change in the priesthood and a change in the law;

In the New Covenant, there is no such office as Priest, rather, we are a royal priesthood; priest and pastor are not interchangeable terms;

In the end as it relate to giving, you have to be free not to give and if you are not, then you are not free to give because it does not come from the heart but from percentage. Become a freewill give and don’t get trapped in the tentacles of income based tithing. Below is one of my readers. Thanks Charles for joining the tithe conversation.

Author and former military man Frank Chase Jr. grew in Baltimore, MD. He got interested in writing from watching movies and listening to a radio show called mystery theatre, but it was only in his thirties after a divorce that his desire to write escalated. His debut book “False Roads to Manhood: What Women Need to Know: What Men Need to Understand” took him seven years of research and writing. If he weren’t a writer, Frank would be a stage actor as it has been his passion since high school.Being a writer has taught him that everyone will not agree with you or what you may write, but it leaves a record and a legacy that can help future generations long after you have passed on. He is currently writing a scripture-centered book and also plans on writing a fiction novel soon. Read full interview…

Folks, many pro-tithers take pride in saying, the New Testament does not command anyone to not tithe. In fact, many times Mathew 23:23 is used as proof text to prove you must tithing money to the church. However if anyone has an ounce of biblical sense, they would know that Jesus’ instruction based on the context of the verse is not about tithing money. When he said “not left the other undone” many pro-tithers think the endorsement of tithing in Mathew references your weekly paycheck. Tithing in the Bible was never based on a weekly or biweekly paycheck process. Tithing in the Bible was based on the sabbatical cycle not a paycheck cycle. The tithe was land based not income based. Many who argue that the New Testament does not say not to tithe, think they have you over a barrel, when they use this verse out of context. But what tithers fail to understand is that New Testament wouldn’t have to say not to tithe because the words “not left the other undone” that Jesus spoke referred to agricultural and livestock tithing. Jesus was not endorsing a monetary tithe. He simply told the hypocritical Pharisees that crops and cattle should be tithed and not left undone. There is no monetary tithe context in Mathew 23:23. The reason why the New Testament does not command believers not to tithe is because the first century audience already knew the the tithe was edible items which was a tenth part of the crops and every tenth animal from the land of Israel. Trying to play a scriptural shell game with the scriptures will not work if someone knows the land, language and literature of the God’s people.

It is hard to convince people that the Bible does not endorse monetary tithing, and even in the face of overwhelming scriptural evidence to support that a tenth of their income is not required of God, it amazes me that people choose ignorance over truth. But maybe if someone else provided proof, maybe that would help. So below I posted a Facebook friend’s answer to the argument that says, the New Testament does not say not to tithe. Or the question goes, show me where the Bible commands us not to tithe. The following is a post by Anthony Todd on Facebook:

I humbly and with all due respect request someone to tell me of one verse in the New Testament that tells us not to tithe. Please don’t twist or change a verse to suit your opinion or inclination. This group has been characterized by name calling, insults and the sort, I wish you avoid that in your responses. Talk the truth not your opinion.

Kimathi Remmy RE: “Thanks for all those responses people. Now in reference to the teachings of the Bible (Which is our guiding book) How did Jesus (Who is God) disqualify tithing? Mention the word for me to understand this. Thank you.”

>>> Why would God have to “disqualify” tithing to people God never “qualified” it to in the first place? And…

1. Where did God instruct Christians to pay/surrender tithes? NOWHERE.

2. Where did God ever tell us that a church or a pastor has a right to takes tithes? NOWHERE.

3. Where did God transfer the ownership of the tithe from the tribe of Levits to to any Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher, Evangelists, church, ministry, organization, or anyone? NOWHERE….

“Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.” – Numbers 18:26

4. Where did God instruct Christians to “continue tithing?” NOWHERE.

5. Where did God establish the paying of money as “tithing?” NOWHERE.

6. Where did God instruct Gentiles to tithe in the Old or New Testament? NOWHERE.

7. Why didn’t the first church council when the Apostle James (speaking for the Apostle Peter), include in his instructions to the Gentile Believers to “make sure you tithe”?….

“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” – Acts 15:28-29

Not one word from the Apostles Peter or James to tithe. If tithing was so important and an instruction from to tithe; why did the Apostle Peter leave it out of his instructions?

> Also, left out of this verse…

“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law [i.e., tithe: Jesus said tithing was a matter of the law – Matt. 23:23]: to whom we gave no such commandment:” – Acts 15:24.

If tithing was required and taught in the New Testament for Christians, it would have to be clearly detailed and outlined in the terms and conditions of the New Testament like all promises and commands of the New Testament are.

Tithing instructions would be clearly included in the New Testament. No such terms, conditions or details are outlined anywhere in the New Testament. Tithing was never, is not now, and will never be part of the New Testament.

No Apostle ever taught tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe. Not one of them. The early church (i.e. Book of Acts) NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so.

>>> AND ONE LAST QUESTION…

An inconvenient question; one that tithing teachers and tithers avoid and prefer not to discuss or answer…

If we are supposed to be tithing money, or at all for that matter, as tithing teachers claim; why are we not supposed to be doing what God says with the tithe money? Like this…

1. Do not pay the tithe in the form of money. Keep the money in your hand (bind it to your hand) until you…

2. Buy wine with it.

3. Buy strong drink (harder liqueur) with it.

4. Buy livestock and other food.

5. Buy whatever you desire, whatever you lust after.

6. Share what you buy with a Levite and family.

7. Only convert your tithe money back to fruits, vegetables and clean live stock, etc., at the location you will share it with a Levite if it is too far to transport it in the form God says it is to paid in.

8. Eat your tithe with the Levite.

9. Learn to fear and respect the Lord by doing one through eight above.

>> Why don’t tithing teachers tell their faithful tithers this?…

> Deuteronomy 14;

22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. 23 And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. 24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee: 25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: 26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, 27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.

>>> CONCLUSION; as you can see, these five unscriptural attempts to pressure Christians into tithing do not hold water and are not validated when scripture is closely scrutinized and studied. If proper biblical interpretation and using the Bible to interpret the Bible is employed, each false argument falls like a house of cards. We are called by God to be free will cheerful generous givers, not tithers.

The Facebook post above shuts down the felonious argument that the New Testament does not say stop tithing. I used felonious on purpose because it related to a crime, and it is a crime to force people to pay a tithe from their paycheck, which amounts to robbery. In chapter 12 of my book, The Gospel Syndrome I address the the issue Matthew 23:23 and point out that the New Covenant has not been established so the Old Testament Laws of paying the herd and crop tithe was well in effect. Here’s an excerpt from Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway?

“Jesus did not ask for an income based tithe because money is capaciously absent from Matthew 23. An established monetary system did exist in Jesus’ time, and the Scriptures confirm this by informing us of an incident where He turned over the moneychanger’s tables in the temple.

Remember, the events in the Matthew’s Gospel and the other gospels took place simultaneously when the temple stood and the Old Covenant was still in effect with the Levites performing temple duties and collecting tithes. None of this had any connection to the New Covenant because the Old Covenant still operated and had not been superseded by the New Covenant. Matthew 23:23, does not apply to the Ekklesia (today’s congregation of believers). Many people assume that Matthew 23:23 was transferred to the New Testament Ekklesia as a requirement. This is not the case because the tithe laws applied only to the Hebrew people as a part of God’s Covenant with the Levites for their service in the temple. The disciples were not Levites and did not work in the temple and the physical rituals associated with the Old Covenant temple services in Jerusalem do not govern today’s New Testament Christian congregation. “That’s why tithe teachers cannot prove Christ paid or collected tithes. During His ministry from age 30 to 33, Jesus never used tithe money to support His ministry or pay ministry expenses. Moreover, the Bible proves this in Luke 8:3, which details how Christ obtained support: “Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means” (NIV). Christ and the disciples were supported by private funds and freewill offerings from many followers who believed and not by tithes.

In Matthew, the eatable tithe of mint, dill and cumin the Pharisees and scribes offered is worthless because it was without a commitment to judgment, mercy and faith. When tithing is taught as a requirement to receive a blessing, it is an error. The context of Matthew 23:23 refers to tithing under to the law and this is what the Pharisees followed. So the next time you hear tithing was before the law, you know the preacher or teacher is contradicting Jesus by trying to disconnect tithing from the law. Here’s the problem with preachers who use Matthew to prove God wants Christians to tithe 10 percent of their income.” Excerpt From: Frank Chase Jr. “Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway? iBooks.

Since the church has a inordinate fascination with money, lets look at some verse from the Bible where money is mentioned so that we can see if money was ever tithed in the scriptures. Now I can tell your that a huge section of my book covers money in the Bible and I know for certain that money wherever is it mentioned, there is not one instance where God said pay a tithe with money.

The everlasting argument Bible theologians, scholars, pastors, Christians and those who investigate Bible history and archeology is whether we can say with certainty that biblical peoples tithed money or crops or both. What was the money used for in the Bible? Was there ever an instance where money was paid as a tithe? Or did Yahweh ever commute the agricultural, herd and flock tithe to money? In the OT the both the words money and tithe are mentioned. But are these items the same? A quick search finds that there are 140 scripture references to money. So let’s look at some verse to see it God wanted money as a tithe.

Money is mentioned is Gen 17: 12-13, 23, “And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.”

The Hebrew word money is Strong’s 3701 (Keseph/kesep). This type of money was a type of metal, silver with a pale color (TWOT 1015a). It was not coins or paper money, it was pieces of silver for use in buying and trading.

The above verses context deals strictly with the circumcision covenant between God and Abraham.

The only command God gives Abraham is that when he buys a slave or one that is born in his house with money to circumcise them.

God issues no command in this context to tithe the money.

One must find somewhere from Genesis 1 to the end where God issued a command to tithe money.

In reference to money, you must examine how Abraham got all his money. You can trace Abrahams money trail from his time in Ur of Chaldess in Gen. 11:31 – Gen. 13: 2-3.

None of Abraham’s wealth came through tithing, but through a promise

The context of these verses is circumcising people born in his house and circumcising purchased slaves bought from a foreigner

God mentions money to Israel during Exodus 30:16, which deals with paying redemption money (gold or silver) to the temple during the census, “And thou shalt take the ATONEMENT MONEY of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.”

The context here is for temple/sanctuary dues not tithes and certainly not a tenth of money. Wow!

The payment was required for every Israelite twenty year old up during the census.

The atonement money was used for Temple upkeep, not Tithes. The atonement money was not a tithe, a tenth or ten percent.

There was no special treatment given to the rich or poor. Everyone needs redemption and payment was the same for all, a half-shekel.

Each man had to pay when he became a certain age.

Notice women and children did not pay.

The amount of the half-shekel cannot be figured out exactly but in Today’s values as best we can tell was anywhere from 5 to 8 dollars. Back in Moses time it could have been anywhere from 25 Cents to 50 Cents. All of this was determined by the values of the specific times.

Every male in Israel paid this money yearly to the tent of meeting.

9. The Bible clearly shows the tent of meeting (OT Sanctuary) was supported by ransom/atonement money and not by a tithe in Exodus in in the pre-law society of Israel.

Conclusion of Exodus: What does Exodus tell us about money? Every reference to money in Exodus says nothing about paying money as a tithe to the Tent of Meeting. But it is explicit as to what money was used for. Here are the facts of scripture with no conjecture or private interpretation.

Money was used to buy servant/slaves

Money was used to purchase women in reference to marriage and if a woman was refused in marriage the man was required to fulfill her rights.

The abuse of a slave was forbidden because the slave represented money.

Money was paid when a owners bull kills another Israelite.

Money was paid when by a owner who dug a pit and didn’t cover it up and another person’s animal fell in and died.

Money was paid if a person thief if he was caught for stealing someone stuff left in the care of another one home.

Money was paid by a man who had sex with an un-betrothed virgin if the father refused to give her in marriage.

When money was loaned to a fellow Israelite, no interest is to be charged.

Money was paid as a ransom/redemption during census. It was given to the tent of meeting as a payment to God for protection.

Genesis and Exodus, no tithing was mentioned. But in Leviticus chapter 27:30-33, God finally mentions the tithe and describes it in detail and breaks down the contents of the tithe and never mentions tithing as money. If God required money as a tithe, the verses would have had to indicate the Hebrew word for money, which is Kesafim and the list would cite silver, gold, or shekels but the verse does not.

“30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s: it is holy unto the LORD. the LORD’s: it is holy unto the LORD. 31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. 33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.”

The tithe is seed of the land

The tithe is fruit of the tree

The tithe is herds (cattle and oxen), flocks (sheep and goats)

The tithe is every tenth animal that passes under the Shepard’s rod

The tithe is not money. The Hebrew word for money is Kesafim and is not shown in the list of requirements

The agricultural tithe could be bought back with an additional fee attached and the farmer could keep the tithe but paid an additional fee on top of the cost of the tithe. The money the Israelite paid to keep his tithe was not a tithe, it was given in lieu is the tithe.

The Hebrew word for tithe is Ma’aser. It is Strong’s 1711h. The word means tenth part, not ten percent, as it is understood in cash. They tithed a tenth part of the crops (seeds of the land and fruit of the Trees) and every tenth animal from the increase only.

The tithe was from grain, fruit, nuts, grapes, herds and flocks.

The first place money is referenced in Numbers is on Num. 3:48-51: 48 And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. 49 And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: 50 Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 51 And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

The money in the verse is the same Hebrew word Keseph, which is silver.

The Levites were not originally supposed to serve in the Tent of Meeting, it was the first born males of all the tribes. See Numbers 3:45

God changed his mind after the Golden calf incident, see Exodus 32:26.

God wanted all the firstborn of Israel but choose the Levites and their animals.

There were 22, 000 Levites and 22, 273 first born Israelites.

Those that were over the count were 273 Israelites and they had to pay redemption money of five shekels per head.

The money was not tithe money but redemption money. As you can see, Moses had to give the money to Aaron and his sons as support.

The 273 first born paid 1,364 shekels to Moses.

So far a lot of money was paid as redemption money but not one red cent was paid as tithe money before or during the law in the Old Testament.

If money is a tithe, then John 2:14-16 would be a perfect place to see if monetary tithing took place during one of the Jewish Feasts at the Temple in Jerusalem. Jews came from around the territory and from afar to offer sacrifice. In John 2:14-16 “And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”

During this time when it was time to celebrate one of the three feasts, Israelites had to bring their animal and crop tithe to the temple. This stuff came from the tithe and freewill offerings.

As discovered, those Israelites that lived to far away from the Temple, had the option to covert their tithe to money and journey to the Temple with the money and repurchase their tithe at the temple. Deut. 14 explains this clearly, “22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. 23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of they flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD they GOD Always. 24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: 25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: 26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, 27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.”

The above scripture give some context to Jn 2:14-16. The Temple was a busy place during the Passover, the feasts of weeks and the feast of tabernacles (booths).

The people who came to the temple with money are those most likely who converted their tithe to money. According to Duet they had to rebuy their tithe.

Here come the money changes who set up shop in the temple to convert Roman money to acceptable temple money which was most likely Jewish shekel

If Jews brought Roman money to the Temple it had to be converted to Jewish money by the moneychangers who are banker types.

The money changes made a handsome profit on the exchange and even cheating by charging above the rate.

Roman money could not be accepted because of the image of a pagan Emperor God and was not fit for Jewish worship and was considered an offence . 5-8 from the Zondervan pictorial Dict. Page 555.

Once a year at the temple every Jewish male over 19 years old was to pay a temple tax as stipulated by Lev 1:3 and Deut 17:1 and Duet 16:1-17 explains the three feasts at the temple.

10. According to the Note in Archaeological NIV Study Bible on page 1707, it states that “The temple area (the outer court of the Gentiles was the place where various items necessary for sacrifices were sold: animal, wine, oil, salt and doves. In addition, money was changed form Roman currency to the required Tyrian shekels in accordance with the Law (Ex 30: 11-14). The practice becomes permanent once a year.”

11. The money changer in Greek is “Kollubistes”, he was a coin dealer, a banker

Based on their cheating in exchanges rate, Unger’s Bible Dictionary on page says, they could have made up to 40-45 thousand dollars. They were the ultimate hucksters.

This cheating force Jesus to over turn the Tables and expose the cheating of the Temple. Would Jesus go into churches today and overturn the money tithe system and accuse dogmatic tithe teachers as turning the church into a den of thieves or God people objects of merchandise?

14. The priests allowed these shenanigans to go on and most likely benefited from financial kickbacks from the practice, and perhaps go taken to the cleaners by the moneychangers also.

The Final Analysis

Money was not tithed in all 140 instances referenced on the Bible.

Money was used for almost everything else except a tithe.

Tithes were turned into money and spent by the tither for food, drink and sharing.

Money was used for taxes, bribes, land purchase, dowries, selling yourself into servitude, .ect, but never as a tithe.

Money Tithe (maser kesafim) is not commanded on the pages of the Bible.

Israel had an ancient money banking system.

Israel was not a 100 percent agricultural society.

Arguing Money Tithing from unsubstantiated scriptures is an argument from silence in scripture.

Tithing of money (Maaser Kesafim) according to some Jewish authorities, it is believed to be an oral command or a rabbinic injunction that is required but not according to the TORAH.

Tithing of money (Maaser Kesafim) according to some Jewish authorities say that it is neither required by the scriptures or by Rabbinic authority.

The only tithe the Bible commands is Maaser (A tenth part of that which grows from the ground that is eatable).

Tithing of money according to Jewish authorities is that the practice is a custom, a tradition that can be practiced but no scripture requires it.

Tithing of money according to Jewish authorities says if it is practiced, the tithe can only be given to the poor and nowhere else.

The tithe of money was a recent invention to support massive church building programs by early leaders of the Catholic Church around the forth century by commuting the tithe to money as a law both civic and religious.

The New Testament church of the book of Acts did not tithe but shared and took care of each other.

Because the Temple still stood in the Book of Acts, the official tithe (Maaser) would have still been going to the Jewish Temple and the Levites, not to the leaders of the people of the way.

Because Paul and the Apostles were not Levites and that Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin he and the others could not accept or ask for a tithe because it would have been considered that he was stealing the inheritance of the Levites which God said belonged to them only.

Paul Jewish background forbids him to profit from the TORAH but he had to work throughout his ministry and he accepted support from caring believers not tithes.This blog’s purpose is to spur believers to study how to give. The truth about money, tithing and everything else in the Bible is only hidden from those who don’t hunger or thirst for truth. So study to show yourself approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of truth. Money will always be a point of contention in the church and shall always be unless the truth comes out.Give According To Paul’s Instructions: As a man purposeth [deciding in your own mind] in his heart give cheerfully not grudgingly, not of necessity according to what one has, not according to what one does not have ( II Cor. 8:12 and 9:7).

There are many other instances of money references in the Bible, but none of them say money is required as a tithe.

Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway?

The monetary tithe doctrine that has swept across generations is tale of deception and misinterpretation of scripture. For many generations pastors have used Old Testament law to condemn and convict people that they owe God and tithe from the paycheck for life. Law tithing of ten percent is a violation of Apostle Paul’s giving instructions which reads, “7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver “(ESV). 2 Cor. 9:7 Read an excerpt of Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway?Examining what Paul taught on giving, there is no way you can tithe ten percent of your income and it not be under compulsion because you have no choice in the amount you give if ten percent is the standard. If someone mandate that you pay Yahweh ten percent it is still a violation of 2 Cor. 9:7 because mandating ten percent create reluctancy especially if you don’t have money to give. Cheerful giving can only happen when there is no preset amount and the giving act stems from the giver’s private decision on how much to give. If Paul wanted every believer to pay ten percent, he would have been clear in the text about Old Testament tithing. As it stands, Paul wanted every man according as he purposed in his heart on how much to give. Tithing money is not a New Testament command or suggestion. So let’s explore some reasons why you should stop tithing according to the scriptures, scholarship, exegesis and hermeneutics.

“It is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to keep the Bible’s command to not give under compulsion while believing that we owe a compulsory tax of 10% of our income to some charlatan to spend any way that he wants.

Tithing is a system of policed and enforced “giving”, which is not voluntary giving at all but an involuntarily taxation. This is not remotely close to cheerful givers commanded to not give “under compulsion” as the Bible clearly teaches in 2 Cor. 9:7.

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7 NASB

But how can one do as he has purposed in his own heart if he or she is at the same time forced to tithe? Well, some tithing advocates who pound Malachi 3 claim that the voluntary aspect of 2 Cor9:7 pertains only to additional offerings or choosing where to tithe. But if the “where” was optional, then why does Malachi 3 set the storehouse as the exact “where” or place where the tithe must be given? The where is not optional. The problem is Malachi 3 does not apply in any way to Christians but rather only to Israel. Many of these tithe teachers mix Old and New Testament Scriptures together in a random haphazard way in order to try and get the Bible to say whatever they want it to say. This erroneous approach to Bible interpretation is often quite evident in many of their other teachings as well.

Briefly, you should NOT tithe. But, this is one of the hardest false teachings and false “church” habits to break. The reason is because we have been so utterly pounded with endless fear tactics and other mental gymnastics in order to keep us tithing. We think we’ll lose our job or our car will break down or some other fear based lunacy that these guys teach. It’s all unbiblical nonsense. Who is the direct beneficiary of the tithe teaching? You guessed it. The tithe teacher!” (excerpt taken from an article tithed, Is Tithing Biblical?)

We Are Not Under the Tithing Law

The official tithe law in God prescribed in Leviticus 27:30-33 defines the limited content of the tithe as eatible items and to try to include money is a misinterpretation of scriptures. Here is how God defines the tithe in Leviticus:

30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD. 31 If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD. 33 He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’ ” 34 These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.

In verse 34, we can see that the tithe law was issued only to the children of Israel and not to any other group of people. This law was not transferred to the believers in the New Testament Church. And that’s why you never read where Paul or any of the disciples taught monetary tithing to any believers in the New Testament Ekklesia, which began in the book of Acts. Here is what Paul said in Romans 6:14, “14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” If believers are not under the Old Testament ordinances of the tithing law but are under grace then is stands to reason that tithing is under the law and not under grace. That means anyone who tries to create a monetary tithe system under grace has just committed scriptural treason. So to let the cat out of the bag, if you hear any pastor teach a doctrine called grace tithing, it is an error. The tithe is the law, the tithe is not grace. The tithe in Leviticus is based on obligation. Today under grace all giving is based under on generosity. So the distinction today is do you want to pay ten percent under obligation or give under obligation. But all of this is a moot point because God’s tithe is livestock and crops. God’s definition of the tithe is the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree. So how does one get money out of this verse?

The Local Church Does Not Replace the Temple

Many pastors argue that the building where members gather is God’s temple and as such the member are obligated to support that building and all if the obligations to keep it running by paying monetary tithes. There is a problem with that argument. Your church building is the the temple in Jerusalem. God flipped the script and the building is no longer significant anymore because the building that God recognizes is the believers body. The Bible now calls believers the temple of God not your church building. Paul made that clean in 1 Cor. 3:16 when he writes, “16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” The building your pastor preaches from is owned by the bank not by God. It is not God’s responsibility to pay the mortgage. It is up to the pastor to ask the congregation to tax themselves on a regular basis to pay the banker the note on the building. That’s why tithing has to be forced onto the members of the congregation because if he didn’t the 501c3 tax exempt church would go bankrupt. So one has to enforce monetary tithing to keep enough funds coming in to sustain the religious organizations need to keep feeding the banker what the agreed to pay in the contract. The monetary tithing system has nothing to do with God command but everything to do with what the banker told your pastor he had to pay. In the Old Testament the spirit filled the temple, now the spirit of God dwells in believers. The house of God as we like to call it is a misnomer because God’s house is not the structures men build. God dwells in the heavens. He says in Acts 7:48:

48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 49 ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest? 50 Has My hand not made all these things?’ NKJV

God does not dwell in temples made with hands so why are people bringing so-called tithes to the so-called storehouse where God does not dwell. He only dwells in the hearts of believers and the building is just a gathering place that is owned by the bank until the member give all of the money to close out the mortgage. God’s house is in heaven, so if tithes were required today, but we know they are not, how would you get to heaven to pay God his tithes and offerings? Would he send you a flaming chariot to pick you up so you could make a heavenly deposit? So lets make since out of this tithe debacle. God’s temple was destroyed in AD 70 and with it went all the tithing laws that governed the function of the Old Testament temple. The tithe God instituted ended at the cross.

Tithing is a Contradiction of Scripture

People do not like it when they find out tithing is not what they’ve been told. However, no matter the evidence that exists showing tithing is not money, it is still an uphill battle trying to deal with cognitive dissonance. So what you read below is evidence showing how scriptures are redefined in the theology and mindset of people who can’t accept that tithing is not required today.

Leviticus 27:30: And all the tithe OF THE LAND, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S; it is holy unto the LORD.

Changed to: And all the tithe OF THE FRUIT OF YOUR LABOR, whether of your savings in the bank, or of the Fruit of the Federal Mint, is the preacher’s; it is holy unto the preacher.

Verse 31: And if a man will redeem ought (any) of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereto.

Changed to: If some poor widow wants to borrow back some of her tithe money to eat, charge her 20% interest.

Verse 32: And concerning the tithe OF THE HERD, or OF THE FLOCK, even whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

Changed to: And concerning the tithe OF YOUR WORK WAGES, or OF YOUR POCKETBOOK, even whatsoever passeth out of an ATM machine, the FIRST part of it shall be holy unto the preacher.

Verse 33: He (the tithe payer) shall not search (inspect) whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

Changed to: The tithe payer shall inspect his paycheck to make sure he gives the BEST (biggest) part of it. If he changes his mind and decides to substitute a prettier hundred dollar bill, he should just empty his wallet and fast until the next payday rolls around.

Verse 34: These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in Mt.Sinai.

Changed to: These are the genetically modified commandments, which the PREACHER commanded the church in Atlanta, Ga.

Although these rewritten scriptures to justify tithing are not in the book, people have been psychologically and theologically bent to interpret the verses in a way that supports monetary tithing. So what happens in a persons mind is that they rewrite Bible verses on a a self-conscience level and when they hear people read the actual verses, the self-conscience overrides the authority of scripture because of years of indoctrination.

Here are more examples of how the mind can re-interpret Bible verses:

Deuteronomy 14:22: Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

Change to: Thou shalt truly tithe on all the wages you earn, that the boss pays you week by week.

Verse 23: And THOU SHALT EAT before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds, and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

Change to: And you shall pay, before the preacher, in the place where you’re sitting in the pew, the tithe or your cash, of your wallet, and of your oil stock dividends, and the first of your hard-earned paycheck, that you might learn to be afraid of the preacher always.* * * Forget that bit about the wine, everybody knows they really drank Welch’s Grape Juice back then. And don’t take scripture so literally that you actually EAT the Lord’s tithe like they did back then! The preacher will do that FOR you when he takes his buddies out to a lobster restaurant!

Verse 24: And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

Change to: If you live too far from the hole-in-the-wall and are unable to haul a hundred-dollar bill to the place where the preacher is building a name for himself, when you’re still living in poverty:

Verse 25: Then thou shalt turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place where the LORD thy God shall choose:

Change to: No need to turn it into money, it’s always BEEN money! Bring that money in to build a project which the preacher shall choose. (MONEY is mentioned in this tithing verse! So the preacher must be right…or IS he?)

The scripture that is used the most money to get money out of people is Malachi 3:8-10. These verse really scare the living hell out of believers or appeal to their desire to have more in life. Collecting tithes from people in the congregation works if you use the psychology of getting blessed abundantly by appealing to materialism, and if that doesn’t work, then presenting the idea that God will curse you if you don’t tithe will get people to cough up the dough. This next set of rewritten scriptures should get the message across to you.

Verse 8: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Change to: Will a man rob God’s supposed representative? Yet ye have robbed him of what he wants most: money. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed the preacher? In monetary tithes and big enough offerings.

Verse 9: Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Change to: That curse carries over into the New Covenant Gentile church, even though God was addressing the Nation of Israel (sons of Jacob) ONLY (see verse 6). Guess that’s a mistranslation.

Verse 10: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Change to: Bring ye ten per cent of all the paychecks, that there may be money in my (the preacher’s) church treasury, and test GOD to see if he will open up an unexpected source of income and shower you with money, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

I started out this blog post by citing 2 Cor. 9:7 and explained what Paul meant in the verse. But even this verse is not protected from mis-interpreters who support unscriptural monetary tithing.

2 Cor.9:7: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Change to: Every man (and woman) according as he feels intimidated by the sermon, so let him pay tithes, because he has to; for the preacher loves his cash cows.

Verse 12: For if there first be a willing mind [go give], it is accepted according to that a man hath, not according to that he hath not.

Change to: Your hesitation is of the devil! Hurry up and give before satan argues you out of it! Make a $2,000 vow of faith out of what you don’t think you have yet, because even though you haven’t gotten that money yet, you ALREADY have it by faith and it will soon materialize into the visible realm, so go ahead and pledge it by faith and God will accept it. All information for this section is taken from Ban Preacher Greed! Tithing Contradicts Scripture.

No Tithing Mentioned in the Book of Acts at the Inception of the New Covenant of Grace

In the book Acts Paul was was accused of starting a riot. In court he spoke to Felix, and this is what is said, 17 “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,… (NJKV) He brought alms not tithes.

Acts 2:44-45 and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. -Why were there no tithes upon the sale of possessions and goods here?

Acts 4: 34 For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,-there is nothing on tithing from the sale prices here either, is there?

Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 ) and kept back part of the price, his wife also privy to it, and brought ==> a certain part <==
and laid it at the apostles` feet.…Nothing is said about them withholding tithes. But maybe he only gave “a certain part”, such as a 10% tithe?We do not know, but if he was under a 10% “standard”as today, they may tithed 10% which could be the “certain PART” they gave. But many pastors teach tithing 10% on the increase of things sold in today’s church world.

Acts 6:1
Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.… In the daily “ministration”, nothing about tithes there either but under the law food tithes were given for widows from the priests.

Acts 8:18
Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles` hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money… no tithe was mentioned.. -but today many might not pass up the offer of Simon!

Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.… no blessing from tithing silver money is mentioned.
Simon was rebuked for thinking he could buy the blessing with money. Nor did Peter correct him saying “just your tithes are fine”.

Acts 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.
... Dorcas was known for faithful “alms” giving, not tithes.
“Alms” are compassionate giving.

Acts 10:2
a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always... Devout Cornelius did not tithe. He “gave much alms” to “the people”, not religious leaders.Acts 11:29
And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send ===> relief to the brethren that dwelt in Judea:.. they sent them“relief”, not “sent tithes”..

Acts 14:23 And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.… elders were appointed over churches. There were no tithes ordered to support them with.

Acts 15. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying,
It is needful to circumcise them, ===> and to charge them to keep the law of Moses. <===.. The church, elders, apostles and Holy Ghost release Christians from the law. They did not “decree” tithing.
People had been teaching the law of Moses to Christians. (15:4)Tithing was “of the matters of the law” -Jesus said in Mat. 23:23

Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us,
to lay upon you ===> no greater burden <===than these necessary things:
29 that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled,
and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you.… The Holy Spirit and the apostles did not include tithing as a “necessary thing”.

Acts 16:4 And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decreesto keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.… Apostolicdecrees were delivered confirming the churches, but no tithing decreed and none of the apostolic epistles to the churches decree tithing

Acts 16: 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, if ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord… Lydia, a sellor of purple was judged faithful. She was not told to tithe or commended for paying them.

Acts 18: 3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked, for by their trade they were tentmakers. Paul and Aquila do not pay tithes on earnings from their trade. Paul and Aquila were tent makers who never paid money tithes under the OT law.

Acts 19:1 while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul … came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples
10 And this continued for the space of two years…Paul ministered in Ephesus three years. But he made no mention of tithing from income in chapter 19, nor did he receive tithes.

Acts 20: 7 And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them….. and prolonged his speech until midnight.… Paul and Luke were in Troas 7 days but on the first day of the week no tithes were gathered nor an offering mentioned.

Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church.… where he does not tell them to tithe or receive them from others.

Acts 20:27 For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God.…the “whole counsel of God” he declared does not mention tithes from income. He also wrote the Ephesian epistle and never ordained tithing in that church letter.

Acts 20:28 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord
… “elders” are called “bishops” and instructed to “feed the flock of God”, not feed themselves from them.

Acts 20: 31 Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one…… Paul remembers his ministry for three years. he never thanked them for tithes or mentioned any of his own. Three years and nothing about tithing? -Nor did he write of tithing in the Ephesian epistle.

Acts 20: 33 I coveted no man`s silver, or gold, or apparel.… Paul did not covet their money, a salary, or benefits. He didnot request offerings and he did not instruct tithes.

Acts 20: 34 Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.… Paul used “these hands”, his own hands, to minister to his own needs and others through working.

Acts 20: 35 I gave you an example, that laboring like me, ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.…Paul told the bishops to work as Paul did, and help weak. He did not tell them to live from tithes. -He did not give them an example to tithe. He did not tell them to tell the church to tithe. (Excerpt information taken from article titled, Tithing in the Book of Acts from preparinghisway Blog).

Tithing is a complex subject to explain. It took me many years to come do a final conclusion about what it means with a lot of research. But one thing is certain now. I understand that the word tithe means a tenth part, based on the Hebrew work Ma’aser. That single word always refers to a tenth part of livestock and crops, which God say is the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree and herd or flocks. Now that is clear straight from the mouth of Yahweh. And since God did not include the Hebrew for money, which is Kesafim in Leviticus Chapter 27, monetary tithing is not biblical.

Thanks Charles for Joining the Tithing Conversation

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Ladies and Gentlemen on June 1, the new title was released in ebook and the paper back on July 14th. It is available at all major online book stores. Do be in the blind about tithing, be in the know what the Bible really says about the tenth. Don’t be surprised to find out that what you thought you knew about monetary tithing is not required and that that Bible was changes to include money as a tithe when tithing is not money.

KLEPTOMANIAC, Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway is a trek through the pages of the Bible to find the untwisted truth about the centuries-old teachings on tithes and offerings. Every page of this book has information that will make you become an …

Take Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway on a email book blog tour. Get a copy of the Blog Tour below and help me celebrate the one year anniversary of Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway by sending my book on an email Book Blog Tour with your email network of friends or however your choose. Go to the link below and get the book blog document and share with your email network of friends.Frank Chase–Kleptomananiac Book Blog Tour Small pdf

Today’s blog is about some of the tithe arguments that people make and how to answer them. The problem with most people is that they have this notion that everything a pastor says can’t be checked out and bounced aginst the Scripture. Most tithe arguments are so convincing, even the most ardent bible student would have problems trying to offer a rebuttal. The key to this whole situation is knowing what the original language actually teaches. In my upcoming book, KLEPTOMANIAC: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway, I explain some aspects of tithing in Israel, but I did not go into other aspects of tithing from the Hebrew perspective. This post will cover some of those other tithing aspects. What some believers don’t know is that Israel tithed in three different fashions. Now it is important to know that theologians do not all agree on whether Israel tithed multiple tithes as three separate tithes or from one tithe used in three different ways. The Hebrew language is clear about what the tithe is and that’s what I’m going to share with you in this blog, along with how to debunk tithing arguments. But first, let me explain the word tithe. Tithe in Hebrew is the word ma’aser. It means tenth part, not ten percent. The definition never explains what the ten part is supposed to be. However, the context where the word tithe appears in Scripture defines the Hebrew word ma’aser as everything eatable. That’s right folks, tithing is about food, not money.

In the book of Leviticus 27:30-33 and Numbers 18:21, 24-31, we find what is termed as the Levitical Tithe, also known as the first tithe. The Hebrew name for this tithe is ma’aser rishon. If you check the Scriptures carefully, the recipients of this tithe were the Levites. Once the Levites got this tithe, they had to turn around and pay a tenth of the tenth of that tithe to the priests. The reason and the purpose the Levites received the tithe is because God willed what belonged to Him to the Levites as a substitute for land inheritance in Israel. The Levites did not get any land in the Canaan, so God gave them the tithe for their service in the temple. They could eat this tithe anywhere and it consisted of every tenth animal that passed under the rod and the crops to be paid by the other tribes in Israel.

In the book of Deuteronomy 12:5-7, 17-19 and in 14: 22-27, we find what is termed as the Festival Tithe, also known as the feast tithe or the second tithe. The Hebrew name for this tithe is ma’aser sheni. If you check the Scriptures carefully, the recipients of this tithe were the Levites, the tithe-owner, and family, and male and female servants who lived in the tithe owner’s hometown. This tithe was eaten during the festivals in Jerusalem and its purpose was to teach the fear of the Lord. The firstborn animals of the livestock were a part of this celebration. It was Once the Levites got this tithe, they had to turn around and pay a tenth of the tenth of that tithe to the priests.

In the book of Deuteronomy 14:28-29 and 26:12-14, we find what is termed as the Charity Tithe, also known as the poor tithe or the third tithe. The Hebrew name for this tithe is ma’aserani. If you check the Scriptures carefully, the recipients of this tithe were aliens, poor, orphans, widows, and the Levites. The purpose of this tithe was to share with the less fortunate and for the Lord to bless all the work of their hands. This tithe that was shared with aliens, poor, orphans, widows and the Levites was eaten within the gates of the city where the Israelites lived and was not taken to the temple. This tithe consisted only of agricultural products and no animals.

With this lengthy explanation, you can see that money was not a part of the tithing process because the tithe is not money. And yes, before you say that Isreal did not have money, the Bible references money 140 times in the Old Testament. Not only that, the Bible never mentions tithing on denarius, bekahs, drachmas, gerahs, talents, mites, shekels gold, or silver. From Matthew to Revelation money was not tithed but money was given as offerings. The Hebrew term for tithing money in Hebrew is ma’aser kesafim. However, these two words never appear together in any tithe verse of the Bible, which means money did not qualify as a tithe. For example, if money is tithed Leviticus 27:30 would read “All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree or silver, gold or shekels is the Lord’s…” Any form of money is left out of Leviticus 27:30-33. Do your research on this and you will be amazed and shocked at what the Bible really teaches.

Now let’s move on to another aspect of tithing that I covered in the video below. As I said earlier, some people are unaware about how to deal with tithe arguments that appear biblically sound. Well if you want answers to 60+ tithing arguments, click on the link. I share some of those arguments in the video below.

If giving ten percent of your paycheck is not really a biblical tithe then what should a tenth of a person’s paycheck be called since the Bible does not describe money as a tithe. Nobody in Israel tithed ten percent of anything. They tithed a ten part of the crops and every tenth animal. So what do we call a tenth of your paycheck? We call it a tax. That’s right folks, a tenth of your check is not a tithe but a tax. You can call it a ten percent tax or a temple tax or simple tax return giving to a charitable organization which includes the church based on the IRS code for charitable gifts. Ten percent of your hard earned cash is not found on the pages of the Bible. In the New Covenant under grace, we give from the heart and the amount is what we decide in our hearts. So don’t let anybody guilt you into the ten percent philosophy by saying, you should do no less than a tenth because at least Israel paid a tenth and we should do no less.” Paul never taught tithing or percentage giving in the New Testament, and you won’t find one verse where he encouraged anyone to pay ten percent to him or the co-laborers who journeyed with him on his travels. The slides below from my initial tithing study give accounts of how to debunk flowery tithe arguments.

This should be enough evidence to shut down the tithe argument, but as human nature goes, letting go of long-held beliefs that have been etched in conscience as fact can cause cognitive dissonance for those having to confront the truth. But in the end, this next slide is the cold hard truth about what the contents of the tithe is.

Author and former military man Frank Chase Jr. grew in Baltimore, MD. He got interested in writing from watching movies and listening to a radio show called mystery theatre, but it was only in his thirties after a divorce that his desire to write escalated. His debut book “False Roads to Manhood: What Women Need to Know: What Men Need to Understand” took him seven years of research and writing. If he weren’t a writer, Frank would be a stage actor as it has been his passion since high school.Being a writer has taught him that everyone will not agree with you or what you may write, but it leaves a record and a legacy that can help future generations long after you have passed on. He is currently writing a scripture-centered book and also plans on writing a fiction novel soon. Read full interview…

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In this installment of tithing, I first want to say that this blog post came about becasue of a news article I read that a single women was fined not tithing, The article is titled, Single Mom Fined $1,000 by Church For Not Tithing–Threatens to Remove Her. After reading the article, I shook my head in disbelief and knew I had to write another blog post to address tithing. I guess I will be for the foreseeable furture continue to write tithing blogs until the monetary tithing madness ends. Let me make this clear as day, what you give to your church is your personal business. However no pastor has a right to take scripture out of context as a means to sustain a finanical system the Bible never endorses. So let’s take a magnifying glass to a scripture text to show that tithing in the Bible was not income but edible items. We know pastors love to quote Malachi but I will not start with that verse. You can get signed paperbacks, just order Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway? from Paypalme for $23.87

In this video, I take a look at the pre-law position on tithing. Throughout my 30 plus years of tithing income and reading the Bible, I never found a verse that hinted of anyone tithing before the law except for the one time Abram did at 80-years old. I never took the time to verify if the Bible gives any evidence as to whether God taught Abram to tithe. Discovering what the Bible really teaches about tithing and giving is vital. Without study and knowing what the Bible says, you could wreck your financial future for generations. Tithing and Giving are not the same but are different as apples and oranges. Tithing ten percent is a personal choice, but it should be understood and practiced with the right understanding. For example, most people give the ten percent and then claim it on their taxes. The question is, is that true free will giving?

If you pay a tenth of your income should it be rightly a called tax return or tax deductible giving? Pay a tenth of your income is really a tax. As a tax, it is acceptable by the tax code as a charitable gift to lower taxable income and in some cases, people will get a refund from the IRS. Pay a tenth income is not a tithe but a tax. Furthermore, tithes are food and not money anyway. In reality, what people call tithing is really a form of paying a temple tax for the upkeep of a church building and paying salaries. That’s fine as long as it is stated that way. However, to be biblically accurate we cannot say that tithing money is s a New Testament command because it is not. In fact, if you are a member of an organization or church, it can’t run without money, so you give to churches, YMCA or any 501C3 organization to keep it running, but mandating a tenth of someone’s income is going beyond the interpretive boundaries of the scripture, which is out of context. Check out the video about Abram and the pre-law tithe.

While doing research on giving, I ran across some information that literally changed my life and relieved me from years of guilt giving. Before I began my journey, I already knew that my Christian faith had its roots in the Hebraic culture of the Hebrew people of the Bible, who are later identified as Israelites. When I found out that there were eight giving levels in the Jewish perspective, my heart skipped a beat. My reaction after reading all eight levels of giving was one of surprise and joy. The key word for giving in Hebrew is TZEDAKAH and it means charity and literally righteousness. The video below explains what TZEDAKAH is and the eight levels of giving from a Hebraic perspective. I think you will get some good giving points from this video that will help you in your understanding of giving from God’s view and not man’s view. Of course, you know my mantra is that you should always independently study because nothing beats personal study especially if you put in the effort yourself. I will also post the slides from my tithing study for your reading pleasure.

Some may ask why am I spending so much of my time posting videos and writing blogs that some people may never read or care about. They may also say, the entire church world believes in tithing and your one single voice will not change centuries-old tithing practices overnight. My response would be, I am not the only voice crying in the wilderness. Besides, this subject has become a passion and so I have no choice but to share and post what I’m learning on this journey. My only regret is that I did not do this sooner when I first heard that the tithe was not money and that God does not require a tenth of income as a tithe for life. Back then, fear prevented me from studying my Bible on the subject. But now I have no fear of sharing this truth from the Scriptures. For those who say all Christians who try to expose the error of popular teachings, such as tithing are heretic hunters and are unstable and rebellious. That’s not true because the Bible says in Proverbs 5:21 “to prove all things…” and in the Jewish Bible says, “But do test everything.” So writing a book and posting blogs and doing videos is an act of obeying the Bible in putting all teaching from the Scriptures to the test of research, hermeneutics, and exegesis based on the land, the language and the literature of the Hebrew people.

So get your pens and your study material out and start your journey in finding out what the pre-law tithe is and the eight levels of giving are from the people of the Bible.

So in the end, you have to decide who is robbing God. Make an effort to study for yourself and I assure you, it will not be in vain because your entire life will be changed in a powerful way by becoming a free will generous giver. So when we talk about pre-Law tithing, neither Abram’s/Abraham tithe nor Israel’s tithe were from their monetary income, which in Hebrew would ma’aser kesafim and you can believe that.

It is important when studying Scripture that proper use of hermeneutics and exegesis is applied. Not only do I encourage this Bible study method, but an example of this studying habit is found in a group of people Paul preached to in Acts 17:11. That group of people responded to Paul’s Gospel message not by accepting what he said willy, nilly, but they searched the Scriptures to see if his message lined up with the Scriptures. Paul writes, “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (NKJV). In my upcoming book, KLEPTOMANIAC, Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway, I go into detail to explain what is involved when you search the Scriptures by defining the meaning of search in Greek. Here’s a short excerpt from my upcoming book:

The word search in Greek is “anakrino,” (Strong’s #350). It is the act of examining the Scriptures beyond reading the text. This Greek word “anakrino” is found in Acts 17:11 and is a verb which implies action and encourages one to scrutinize, investigate, interrogate, judge, determine, and examine Scripture. Examining also involves asking questions.[i]

No person who sits in the church pews should be passive listeners of the word, but should be active participants in the study of the Scriptures. That is what the Thessalonica congregation did when they researched Paul’s message. It is also what I did when I searched the Scriptures about tithing. And what I discovered over the years has literally brought tears to my eyes. Tithing is not a subject you just read verses about and think you understand. It takes a lot more than reading Bible verses, and the people in Thessalonica prove that point. My video examines the tithe and all its variations. Though I talk about tithing in the language of first, second and third tithe and the festival and poor tithe, I am not settled on how many tithes Israel had. And because I’ve searched, studied, investigated, judged, determined and examined the Scriptures like the Greek word for search implies, I know my research is true because I searched the Scriptures to see if tithing was money or food much like the Thessalonians did with Paul’s message.

The slides in this post were not discussed specifically in the video but they are connected to another group of people who ate the tithe. In my book, I talk about the poor receiving the tithe every third year. As you begin to pick apart every aspect of tithing from a scholarly perspective, you have to decide on what path you will take in searching for the truth. You can either let others study for you or you can take the Bible and begin your own personal journey. I learned a great deal about the subject and a whole lot more about God and his character in dealing with his people. When I started studying tithing, I assumed the Levites were the only people who received the tithe. As I dug deeper, little did I know that poor people were recipients of the tithe too. Read the slides and listen to the video.

If the poor received the tithe in the Old Testament, why are poor people not receiving the tithe today? Some people will say that all I post is non-tithing information. But don’t worry I have a complete power point presentation on New Testament giving and you won’t miss a thing because that information will be posted. On the issue of multiple tithes in Israel, I mention both views about first, second and third tithes. In the video, I mentioned the plurality of the word tithes and stated that there are different schools of thought one the plurality of the word tithes.

On the issue of multiple tithes in Israel, I mentioned both views about first, second and third tithes. In the video, I mentioned the plurality of the word tithes and stated that different schools of thought existed on the issue. Some view the plurality of the word tithes to mean multiple tithes and others view the plurality of the word tithes as nothing more than the tithes that came from the 12 tribes who tithed to Israel. One of the research books that I read in my tithe studies addressed this matter of the plurality of tithes. Author, Jeff Farris writes on page 43 that:

it has been argued that since Scripture speaks of ‘tithes’ (noting the plurality of the word), that there was more than one tithe and this supports a second or third tithe. But this argument is immediately nullified once we understand that there was a tithe of produce and a tithe of livestock [not money], which can further be broken down into the various kinds of plants and animals that were tithed. Added to this is the fact that there were eleven tribes in Israel with families represented in each tribe. They all tithed. All of these can be taken together in a variety of ways and be called, ‘tithes,’ thus accounting for the plurality of the word.

This means tithes addresses the types of items given and not whether there was more than one tithe. However, I used the words first, second and third tithe to make sense of a complex tithe system. So remember, those who were not landowners in Israel did not tithe. One the reasons I spent so much of my time studying this subject is to make sure all people and the especially elderly in the church understand what the Bible says about vulnerable people. I dived into this tithing phenomenon because of things such as a 92-year-old woman being kicked out of her church for being sick and not tithing. You can’t make this stuff up. And that’s why I wrote the book, KLEPTOMANIAC: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway?And it appears some churches may be guilty of robbing its members by abusing tithe Scriptures. The following quote from the book Iron Sharpens Iron by Michael Burman offers some insight into possibly why more than one tithe came about.

The following quote states: “The rabbis … interpreted them [spring and autumn harvests] as two different tributes: one to be given to the Levites, ‘the first tithe’, and the other to be brought to Jerusalem, ‘the second tithe’ … the implementation of these laws was almost impossible … 20 percent … was too high …” (Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1971, volume 15, “Tithing”, pages 1161–1162).

The Scribes and Pharisees had adopted numerous traditions that transgressed the original intent of the law. Christ said to the Scribes and Pharisees: “… ‘Why do you transgress the commandment of [GOD] because of your tradition?’” (Matthew 15:3).

The historian Josephus states: “Let there be taken out of your fruits a tenth, besides that which you have allotted to give to the priests and Levites … Besides those two tithes, which I have already said you are to pay every year, the one for the Levites, the other for the festivals, you are to bring every year a third tithe to be distributed to those that want …” (Josephus, Book 4, chapter 8, entry numbers 8, 22).

Although Josephus mentions a second and third tithe he was only citing the traditions of the Pharisees. Did you notice that the priests and Levites asked their local communities to pay a third tithe EVERY YEAR! The original intent of the law was that a tenth was to be taken out of a single tithe every three years, not every year. It was traditions like this that placed an enormous burden onto the shoulders of the tithepayer.

The scholarship on tithing is indisputable and yet people still refuse to accept the truth of Scripture. With this above quote, it appears that one tithe existed in Israel and that multiple tithes seem to have been an extra taxation by Rabbis later in history, which the author claims Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because of their excessive respect for the law by creating more laws and traditions that violated the original intent of the law.

Remember the tithe in Israel was based on an economic system where assets were tithed on and not Israel’s income. If you dig into the historical context of the Hebrew people, you will never see God ask for money as a tithe in Israel. He always asked the 12 tribes who farmed the land in Israel for a tithe from the increase from His miracle and not man’s effort through a wage. The word increase has never been associated with money in the Bible. God wanted a tithe from Israel’s assets, which were crops, cattle, grain, herds, flocks and all items He increased. The term increase in Scripture is yield from the field and offspring from the herds, flocks and cattle. Never assume what a tithe is until you deeply study the land, the language and the literature of the Israelite people. Knowing the truth means seeking out orthodox Hebrew to understand the nuances and the different sects of Jewish thought concerning the tithe. When you do that, you will see that tithe teachers in today’s church are far from understanding Israel’s tithe economy. Now I do have to warn you. Some Jews today are not immune to fall prey to the money tithe system. Despite the best scholarship, people still get duped by the modern interpretation of the tithe.

In this short video, I continue my detailed examination of money in the Old Testament. One of the tasks I embarked upon before putting together my initial power point tithing study was to study all the Bible references to money. Most people assume that free will givers are against helping the church but this is far from the truth. Setting a ten percent standard for money based on Old Testament theocratic legislation in opposition to what the Scripture says cannot be justified by saying Israel’s food was their income and money is our income, so we tithe. God never converted the food tithe to money. If he did, He would have had to commute the food tithe to money in the New Covenant under the Priesthood of Yeshua. But He did not because we as believers are a holy priesthood. Believers in Christ are now the temple and we are all priests. A royal priesthood and a holy nation. The high priests in the Old Testament did not tithe to anyone. So in the New Covenant, we don’t tithe either. As priests, we do not tithe but give money from the heart to support good works with a willing heart moved by God’s spirit. A tithe is always and forever eatable products from the land (cattle, herds, flocks and crops). Do your word study to discover the truth and you will be set free to give like Paul instructed in 1 Cor. 8:12, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is acceptable according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” The New Testament does not specify percentages. Paul simply instructs, “Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, nor of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.” Tithing is law giving no matter how you twist the Scripture. When you set a percentage at 10 percent, you are now giving by necessity which Paul forbids in 2 Cor 9:7″

That’s why it’s important to make sure you study every verse in the Bible that references money. This short video will give you a place to begin studying money in the Bible. One of the chapters of my upcoming book, Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God?has a chapter in it called, Show Me the Money. my book will not cover all 140 verses but will give you an overview of how Isreal handled money. I went through 140 Bible verses concerning money and what I discovered was astounding. Not one instance where the Scripture mentions money does God ever command anyone, Hebrew or non-Hebrew, to tithe ten percent to the Old Testament temple and neither in the first century or the following centuries. Because people believe that Isreal operated in a full-fledged agricultural economy, it is important to point out that the Bible disagrees with that interpretation. I can tell you from my lengthy study on money, I could not find one verse where a person tithed money. Take a look at these two power point slides from my original work to see what you think. Did an antiquated banking system exist among Hebrew Israelites and in Egypt? Studying is the only way to find the truth.

Here’s a video discussing whether the tithe is food or money. The video goes into some doctrinal teaching but what you should focus on is the scriptural references on what money was used for and it was never a tithe. The video also covers some aspects of what my book Kleptomaniac will cover. Let’s get to the whole truth and nothing but the truth by studying the Scripture. Looking for your feedback. Was the Tithe Food or Money?

The source for some of the material on these two slides comes from two very informative books:

Here’s a short snippet from Chapter 5, Show Me the Money, of my upcoming book, Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God?

This chapter examines many Old Testament scriptures with the word money. In fact, there are 140 verses in the Bible that use the word money. Believers should research every Scripture to discover how biblical people have historically handled money. Money was vital in the Bible; however, some argue that Israel and secular nations did not use money in a significant way. Some believers think Israel’s entire economy was agricultural. However, if money was not an important commodity of that time, why are there 140 money verses as opposed to only 38 references to tithe/tithes in the Scripture? While I cannot cover all 140 biblical references in this chapter, I will highlight some of them to give you insight into Israel’s money practices.

Books By Author Frank Chase Jr

Books

KLEPTOMANIAC: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway?

Interested in purchasing a copy of the book KLEPTOMANIAC. This book is a journey into the annuals of biblical history concerning what the Bible teaches about tithing and giving. This book will take you on a proverbial archeological quest to uncover the true meaning of biblical words that deal with money. When confusion exists about what certain words mean in the Bible, such as tithe, tithing, tenth or ten percent, this book will examine the Hebrew and Greek language to bring to life what these words actually mean in context. This book will upend the common beliefs held by believers concerning giving and tithing based on the history of the original people of the Bible and how they related to money. From the very beginning to the end of the book, everything is supported by Scripture and research. You will know from the onset why the author, Dr. Frank Chase Jr., wrote the book and learn about his personal story of what happened as a result of embracing New Covenant giving principles from the New Testament. No book asks questions like this book. And some of those questions are: does the Bible talk about tithing? Did God change the tithe at some point in biblical history? Are first fruits money? Is the tithe food or money? Is the church the storehouse? Did Jesus, Paul and the Disciples tithe? Did the early church honor a money tithe system? Are Christians really cursed for not tithing ten percent of their income? These questions will be answered based on scholarship, the land, the language and the literature of the original Biblical people. Not only does the book cover the Old Testament tithe, but it will travel through time to unveil what the New Testament teaches about giving and tithing by analyzing some of the epistles of Apostle Paul concerning his views and the instructions he gave on charitable giving. This book defines biblical terms using the Hebrew and Greek text to bring clarity and understanding of the scripture in context. KLEPTOMANIAC defines the actual orthodox biblical tithe.

Get get a signed copy from the author's website at http://www.fcpublishing.com/about_kleptomaniac. Price includes tax, shipping and handling.
If you just want a copy of the ebook, go to https://store.bookbaby.com/book/kleptomaniac